India – Ease of doing business (World Bank Report)

10th December 2018 10th December 2018

‘Rome was not built in a day’ - 2014 started the process of review and improvement India’s world ranking in the 'ease of doing business'. The World Bank initiated measure has Identied India as the most improved country in this sphere. Out of 190 countries; in 2014 India was at a miserly 140th, It made it to the 100th position in 2018 and finally stands at 77 in Ease of Doing Business ranking in the 2019 survey.

A focused approach by the India Government with changes and reforms including implementing the GST (Goods and Services Tax) in 2017, amendment proposed to the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) in 2016, reforms towards 'construction permit', 'starting a business' and 'trading across borders' etc. has brought about the change. As per the World Bank report; Within South Asia; India has the highest score for protecting minority investors.

The focus to improve the ranking is clearly targeted towards increasing foreign investment flow into India thereby increasing the job opportunties within the country and overall prosperity.

The following were specifically recognized by the World Bank in various categories:

Making it easier to start a business • Cut or simplified postregistration procedures (tax registration, social security registration, licensing) • Introduced or improved online procedures

India streamlined the business incorporation process by introducing the SPICe form (INC-32), which combined the application for the Permanent Account Number (PAN) and the Tax Account Number (TAN) into a single submission.

Making it easier to deal with construction permits • Reduced time for processing permit applications • Improved or introduced electronic platforms or online services

Earlier, the process of seeking permission involved physical submission of documents, which has now been replaced by online mode of submission. The average time for getting permission has also dropped significantly; from around 150 days earlier to just 60 days now — although in terms of global best practice, it is far lower at 26 days. The number of procedures has also seen a sharp drop from 24 to seven now.

Making it easier to pay taxes • Introduced or enhanced electronic systems • Simplified tax compliance processes or decreased number of tax filings or payments

The time needed to complete the applications for Employee’s Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) and the Employee’s State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) has also decreased.

Making it easier to trade across borders • Strengthened transport or port infrastructure for exports • Strengthened transport or port infrastructFacilitated customs • Administration for exports and importsure for imports

In trading across borders, India reduced border compliance time by improving infrastructure at the Nhava Sheva Port in Mumbai. Export and import border compliance costs were also reduced in both Delhi and Mumbai after merchant overtime fees were abolished. With the increased use of electronic and mobile platforms, since July 2016 importers under the Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) program have been able to clear cargo faster through simplified customs procedures.

Making it easier to enforce contracts • Introduced or expanded the electronic case management system

Making it easier to resolve insolvency • Improved the likelihood of successful reorganization • Introduced a new restructuring procedure • Regulated the profession of insolvency administrators

India strengthened access to credit by amending the rules on priority of secured creditors outside reorganization proceedings and adopting a new insolvency and bankruptcy code that introduced a reorganization procedure for corporate debtors.